The 8 Barcelona players Xavi Hernandez would have shipped out this summer

Xavi Hernandez is negotiating the final details of his exit from Barcelona, when just weeks ago, he was planning the departures of a number of others. The Catalan coach was keen for another summer of turnover two years on from the famous economic levers summer.

One of the key areas of disagreement between Xavi, Sporting Director Deco and President Joan Laporta was around the squad, with the manager at odds over both targets and the number of changes.

Xavi was keen to bring in four or five key reinforcements in the form of Bernardo Silva, winger Nico Williams, right-back Juan Foyth and one of Joshua Kimmich or Martin Zubimendi, in a world where Barcelona could afford them all. Marca say that Xavi was willing to part with Frenkie de Jong and Raphinha if it meant funding their replacements.

🚨 Initially, Barça prioritized Luis Enrique over Hansi Flick, but the former's appointment was impossible. @sport

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) May 28, 2024

In terms of players that he was keen to move on regardless, the headline name was striker Robert Lewandowski, who has a year left on his deal, and will see it extended next summer if he plays 50% of Barcelona’s games this coming season. Loanees Joao Cancelo and Joao Felix had not done enough to earn his approval either.

Meanwhile veterans Marcos Alonso and Oriol Romeu look as if they may leave at any rate, but Xavi would have seen both of them out of the door, and Brazilian signing Vitor Roque, who he showed clearly that he did not have faith in, with little in the way of game time since his arrival.

Xavi had plenty of surgery and resources invested in the squad early in his reign, and delivered a La Liga title off the back of it, but struggled to return Barcelona to the style of play that he demanded of himself. New manager Hansi Flick seems unlikely to receive much in the way of reinforcements this summer, and presumably has agreed to Deco’s plans in the transfer market.